Consumer TechConsumer technology is going to exist indefinitely, perhaps for as long as the human species exists. At CleanTechnica, we try to feature consumer technologies that help to reduce global warming pollution and other types of pollution. For example: electric cars, solar panels, bikes, energy efficient appliances and electronics, and green smartphone apps. Keep an eye on this category for all sorts of fun and cool, helpful consumer technology.

Organic solar cells have received a big boost to their efficiency thanks to a new device designed by Princeton University. The newly designed, cheap, flexible plastic device more than triples the efficiency of organic solar cells.

The new device is essentially a ‘sandwich’ of nanostructured metal and plastic that is able to trap light, increasing solar cell efficiency by 175 percent. According to the researchers, the device will also work to increase the efficiency of inorganic solar cells, but that side of things hasn’t been tested yet.

The device works by addressing two of the main causes of inefficiency in solar cells, light being reflected by the cell surface, and the lack of an ability to fully capture the light that does enter the cell.

Princeton University writes: “With their new metallic sandwich, the researchers were able to address both problems. The sandwich — called a subwavelength plasmonic cavity — has an extraordinary ability to dampen reflection and trap light. The new technique allowed the research team to create a solar cell that only reflects about 4 percent of light and absorbs as much as 96 percent. It demonstrates 52 percent higher efficiency in converting light to electrical energy than a conventional solar cell.”

Those numbers are for direct sunlight — the device works even better for indirect light, as occurs on cloudy days. By “capturing these angled rays, the new structure boosts efficiency by an additional 81 percent, leading to the 175 percent total increase.”

The specifics of the device are rather complex, but it essentially works like a ‘black hole’ for light, completely trapping it.

While the system is essentially ready for commercial use, the researchers think that it may take some time before they are mass produced and used on a wide scale.

The research was just published online November 2, 2012, in the journal Optics Express.

About the Author

James Ayre 's background is predominantly in geopolitics and history, but he has an obsessive interest in pretty much everything. After an early life spent in the Imperial Free City of Dortmund, James followed the river Ruhr to Cofbuokheim, where he attended the University of Astnide. And where he also briefly considered entering the coal mining business. He currently writes for a living, on a broad variety of subjects, ranging from science, to politics, to military history, to renewable energy. You can follow his work on Google+.

“The nanostructured metal film is also promising for silicon solar panels
that now dominate the market. Because the PlaCSH sandwich captures
light independent of what electricity-generating material is used as the
middle layer, it should boost efficiency of silicon panels as well. It
also can reduce the thickness of the silicon used in traditional silicon
solar panels by a thousand-fold, which could substantially decrease
manufacturing costs and allow the panels to become more flexible.”

tibor strausz

ok so on cloudy day’s it gives an 175% extra and on sunny day’s 81%.

that will be on average between 81% and 175% depending on your location.

will this increase be added to the current panels? like the 19% efficient ones on the market? and will these go to an efficiency of 34% up to 52%??

and what will the extra cost be?

Dewayne Curry

“more than triples the efficiency of organic solar cells”….
“leading to the 175 percent total increase.”

That would mean 2.75 times times the efficiency. NOT more than 3.

sina

usually,how much time does it take to be commercialized?

kayzam

“WOW” can”t wait to drive my new solar car. no more gas. at last the earth can come back to LIFE?

Wind Energy

Search the IM Network

The content produced by this site is for entertainment purposes only. Opinions and comments published on this site may not be sanctioned by, and do not necessarily represent the views of Sustainable Enterprises Media, Inc., its owners, sponsors, affiliates, or subsidiaries.